Implantable hearing aid transducer

ABSTRACT

A variable reluctance motor is provided having a linear relationship between an input current and an output force. According to one aspect of the invention, the motor comprises a stator, an armature, and at least one magnetic member to provide a biasing force on the armature. According to this characterization, the motor also includes a drive coil to generate an electromagnetic field in response to a current input. The electromagnetic field, in turn, moves the armature relative to the stator during motor operation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority as a divisional application to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/821,719 filed on Apr. 9, 2004, entitled“VARIABLE RELUCTANCE MOTOR.” The foregoing patent application isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to motors, and in particular, to avariable reluctance motor having a substantially linear relationshipbetween input current and a resulting force.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electromagnetic motors are utilized in a variety of applications, bothas motors to deliver force and as sensors to detect force acting on themotor. Electromagnetic motors employ one or more coils and one or moremagnets that comprise an armature (moving portion of the motor) and astator (stationary portion of the motor) to generate an output force.One type of electromagnetic motor, sometimes referred to in the art as aLorentz motor, operates on the principle that force is created by theinteraction of magnetic fields. In this case, a current is provided to aconductor, such as a coil, located in a magnetic field provided by amagnet, to generate a force that is proportional to the input current.In other words, a linear relationship exists between the currentprovided to the conductor and the output force generated by the motor.So long as the conductor remains in the area of the magnetic field, alinear current to force relationship exists. Unfortunately, however, inthis design, flux from the magnetic field passing through the conductorincreases the reluctance, e.g. the magnetomotive force across astructure divided by the flux through the area of the structure, of themagnetic path thereby increasing the size of the magnet required for agiven output force.

Another type of electromagnetic motor, known as a variable reluctancemotor, operates on the principle that an iron core placed in a magneticfield always aligns in the minimum reluctance position e.g. where themagnetic field meets the lowest resistance. In a variable reluctancemotor, both the armature and the stator have iron cores with salientpoles. Due to the salient poles in the armature and stator, displacementof the armature relative to the stator produces a variation of thereluctance of the magnetic circuit.

Operationally, the windings of the variable reluctance motor are excitedby a complex time varying source, such that when a phase winding isenergized, the armature positions itself to achieve a minimum reluctancefor that phase. Just as the armature approaches equilibrium, current isswitched to the next phase winding to maintain motion. Variablereluctance motors, while being capable of producing large forces in acompact form factor, produce these forces in a non-linear manner, as thereluctance is non-linear. In this regard, the force produced by avariable reluctance motor is substantially proportional to the productof the square of the winding ampere-turns and the rate of change of theinductance as a function of armature position.

In many applications, however, it is desirable that a motor produce ahigh force output in a compact form factor, respond linearly to currentinput, and be independent of the position of the armature relative tothe stator. For instance, in the class of hearing aids generallyreferred to as implantable hearing aids, some or all of various hearingaugmentation componentry is positioned subcutaneously on or within apatient's skull, typically at locations proximate the mastoid process.Implantable hearing aids may be generally divided into two sub-classes,namely semi-implantable and fully implantable. In a semi-implantablehearing aid, components such as a microphone, signal processor, andtransmitter may be externally located to receive, process, andinductively transmit an audio signal to implanted components such as atransducer. In a fully-implantable hearing aid, all of the components,e.g. the microphone, signal processor, and transducer, are locatedsubcutaneously. In either arrangement, an implantable transducer isutilized to stimulate a component of the patient's auditory system.

One type of implantable transducer is an electromechanical transducerhaving a driver to move a vibratory actuator. As will be appreciated, itis desirable that the driver output force be linearly related to theinput current as controlled movements of the actuator are utilized tostimulate one or more bones of the ossicular chain to cause or enhancethe sensation of hearing for the patient. It is also, desirable that thesize of implantable transducers be minimized due to their environment ofuse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, a primary object of the present invention isto improve the operational characteristics of variable reluctancemotors. Another object of the present invention is to improve theefficacy of variable reluctance motors, e.g. force generated for a giveninput current or motor size. Another object of the present invention isto provide a variable reluctance motor having an output force that islinearly related to an input current.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a variable reluctancemotor is provided. The variable reluctance motor according to thisaspect linearly responds to an input current, e.g. exhibits asubstantially linear relationship between input current and generatedforce. According to this aspect, the motor comprises a stator, anarmature, and at least one magnetic member to provide a biasing force onthe armature. According to this characterization, the motor alsoincludes a drive coil to generate an electromagnetic field in responseto a current input. The electromagnetic field, in turn, moves thearmature portion relative to the stator portion during motor operation.

In one feature of the present aspect, the motor may be designed, e.g.the components configured, so that the armature portion moves linearlyrelative to the stator portion of the motor.

In another feature of the present aspect, the motor may be designed,e.g. the components configured, so that the armature portion rotatesrelative to the stator portion of the motor.

In either case, in another feature of the present aspect, the magneticmember may be a permanent magnet that is provided to generate a biasingforce in the form of a permanent magnetic field that acts in asubstantially balanced manner on the armature of the motor. In thisregard, the permanent magnet may be configured and/or located in themotor (or the motor itself may be configured according to the magnetdesign) such that equal and opposite magnetic fields emitted from themagnetic poles of the permanent magnet act in a substantially balancedmanner on the armature.

In another feature of the present aspect, the magnetic member may be anelectromagnetic member, e.g. such as a second coil that is provided togenerate the biasing force in the form of electromagnetic fields thatact in a substantially balanced manner on the armature of the motor.

In either case, e.g. whether a permanent magnet or electromagneticmember is utilized, it is desirable that biasing force generated by themagnetic member be larger than the electromagnetic field generated bythe drive coil of the motor. It is also desirable, but not necessary,that the magnetic member be located in the motor so that it issubstantially outside of the path traveled by the electromagnetic fieldsgenerated by the drive coil of the motor. The present inventors haverecognized that this in turn results in a greater motor efficacy throughreduced reluctance, e.g. output force for a given input current.

To provide the substantially balanced biasing force on the armature, themagnetic member may be disposed in relation to the armature so thatabsent a current being applied to the drive coil of the motor, themagnetic member generates magnetic fields or flux between its poles thatact on the armature in a substantially equal and opposite mannerrelative to an axis of armature movement, e.g. substantially balancedmanner. In this regard, absent current to the drive coil of the motor,the armature remains in a state of static equilibrium as equal, e.g. inforce, and opposite, e.g. in direction, magnetic fields act on thearmature. During motor operation, however, e.g. when current is appliedto the drive coil of the motor, the electromagnetic field generated bythe drive coil operates on the magnitude of the biasing force providedby the magnetic member. In particular, the electromagnetic field fromthe drive coil offsets the substantially balanced magnetic field of themagnetic member to cause the armature to move as a function of thedirection of the applied current. According to this characterization,the input current may be an alternating current to switch the directionof the electromagnetic field generated by the drive coil and therebyswitch the direction of armature movement. Operationally, according tothis characterization, an input current applied in a first direction onthe drive coil generates an electromagnetic field in a first directionthat operates to increase a first portion of the biasing force from themagnetic member and decrease a second portion of the biasing force fromthe magnetic member. This in turn operates to move the armature in afirst direction, e.g. toward the decreased portion of the biasing forceand away from the increased portion of the biasing force. Similarly, inresponse to switching the direction of the input current theelectromagnetic field generated by the drive coil increases the secondportion of the biasing force and decreases the first portion of thebiasing force to move the armature in the opposite direction, e.g.toward the decreased portion of the biasing force and away from theincreased portion of the biasing force.

Advantageously, the biasing force from the magnetic member operates tocancel non-linearities in the motor to provide a linear relationshipbetween the input current to the drive coil and an output force of themotor. Also, advantageously, the biasing force applied by the magneticmember does not affect the acoustic performance of the motor. Still yetanother advantage provided where the magnetic member is located outsideof the path traveled by the electromagnetic field generated by the drivecoil, is that reluctance in the motor is reduced thereby increasing themotor efficacy, e.g. output force for a given input current.

In another feature of the present aspect, the motor may include a singledrive coil to generate the electromagnetic field or alternatively, mayinclude multiple drive coils that are electrically connected to generatethe electromagnetic field.

In another feature of the present aspect, the motor is configured todefine a path of travel for the electromagnetic field emitted from thedrive coil, which is substantially continuously magnetically conductive.For instance, the motor may include a back iron portion designed tominimize air gaps in the path traveled by the electromagnetic field fromthe drive coil to reduce reluctance and increase motor efficacy e.g.output force for a given input current.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an implantablehearing aid transducer is provided. According to this aspect, thetransducer comprises a transducer body, an actuator, and a driver. Theactuator is movable relative to the body to stimulate an auditorycomponent when the same is interfaced therewith. The driver includes avariable reluctance motor to move the actuator in response to an inputcurrent, wherein an output force provided by the variable reluctancemotor is substantially linearly related to the input current.

In one feature of the present aspect, the driver may be a variablereluctance motor according to the first aspect of the present inventionincluding one or more of the above set forth features. According to thischaracterization, the actuator may be interconnected to the armature ofthe motor such that axial movements of the armature are communicated tothe actuator. Accordingly, the actuator is axially moved relative to thetransducer body to stimulate an auditory component of a patient when thesame is interfaced therewith. In one example according to this aspect,the actuator may be interconnected to the armature of the motor. Inanother example according to this aspect, the actuator may be thearmature of the motor. That is, the actuator may be an integralnon-separable part that functions as an actuator for the transducer andan armature of the driver.

In another feature of the present aspect, the armature and the stator ofthe present motor may each include a biocompatible enclosure. Accordingto this characterization, the driver may be separately sealed within thetransducer body such that sealing is not required at the movableconnection between the actuator and the transducer body. That is, theindependent driver enclosure(s) eliminates the necessity of providing aninterconnection between the actuator and the transducer body that isboth sealed and movable.

According to another aspect of the present invention a method ofoperating an electric motor is provided. The method includes the stepsof generating an electromagnetic field in a stator portion of the motorin response to an input current. The method further includes the step ofmoving an armature portion of the motor relative to the stator portionin response to the generated electromagnetic field. According to thischaracterization, a reluctance of the motor varies during the movingstep as a function of the armature position relative to the statorportion. The method further includes producing an output force in themotor that is substantially linearly related to the input current.

In one feature of the present aspect, the method may further includeinducing a biasing force on the armature of the motor. According to thischaracterization, the method may further include, providing analternating input current to generate an alternating electromagneticfield. According to this characterization, when the electromagneticfield travels in a first direction a first portion of the biasing forceis increased while a second portion is decreased to move the armature ina first direction. Similarly, when the electromagnetic field travels ina second direction the first portion of the biasing force is decreasedwhile the second portion is increased to move the armature in a seconddirection. Additional aspects, advantages and applications of thepresent invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art uponconsideration of the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a variable reluctance motor accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a variable reluctance motoraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates another example of a variable reluctance motoraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates another example of a variable reluctance motoraccording to the present invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate implantable and external componentryrespectively, of a semi-implantable hearing aid device application ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates one example of an implantable transducer including avariable reluctance motor according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a means resilient member for thetransducer of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which at leastassist in illustrating the various pertinent features of the presentinvention. In this regard, the following description is presented forpurposes of illustration and description and is not intended to limitthe invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations andmodifications commensurate with the following teachings, and skill andknowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the presentinvention. The embodiments described herein are further intended toenable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, orother embodiments, and with various modifications required by theparticular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a variable reluctance motor accordingto the present invention, namely motor 100. The motor 100 includes anarmature 106 and a stator 120; including at least one drive coil 102, atleast one magnetic member 104, and a back iron 108. The back iron 108includes a first pole 110 and a second pole 112 that define a linearaxis of movement for the armature 106 along the axis C of the motor 100.In this regard, the motor 100 operates on the principle of variablereluctance, in which a piece of highly permeable material, e.g. thearmature 106, is pulled along the axis C with increased or decreasedforce as a function of the amount of current applied to the coil 102. Inother words, the armature 106 is disposed for linear movement back andforth along the center axis C toward and away from the poles 110 and 112as a function of the current applied to the coil 102. The motor 100,however, is configured to maximize the linearity of an output force overa maximum displacement range of the armature 106, while linearizingvariability in the inductance, or electromotive force induced for agiven current input to the coil 102. In this regard, the motor 100 isconfigured to operate on a push pull principle to achieve asubstantially balanced design. In other words, during movement of thearmature 106 relative to the stator 120, nonlinear terms of reluctancecancel in the center of the range of motion and substantially cancel inother positions. This in turn, not only linearizes the inductancecomponents of the motor 100 but also permits the motor 100 to provide alinear force output in response to input current and be substantiallyindependent of the position of the armature 106.

According to one embodiment, the magnetic member 104 may be a permanentmagnet disposed relative to the armature 106 so that it provides abiasing force on the armature 106. The biasing force may be a constantbiasing force. In the present context, constant biasing force refers toa substantially constant force acting on the armature 106, at leastduring motor operation, e.g. when a current is applied to the drive coil102. In this regard, the magnetic member 104 may also be disposed aboutthe armature 106. In particular, the magnetic member 104 may be annularin shape such that it circumscribes the armature 106. More particularly,the magnet member 104 may centrally circumscribe the armature 106 suchthat it is both configured and located to provide the biasing force onthe armature 106. In this regard, the magnetic member 104 may beradially polarized, with the interior being the north (N) pole and theexterior being the south (S) pole. That is, the circumferentially facingsides of the magnetic member 104 define the magnetic poles such thatmagnetic flux passes from one circumferentially facing side of themagnetic member 104 around the inner and outer ends of the magneticmember 104 into the opposite circumferentially facing side along thepaths indicated generally as 114 and 116. Thus, absent a current beingapplied to the coil 102, the magnetic member 104 generates permanentmagnetic fields or flux between its poles that are equal and opposite,as indicated by the paths 114 and 116 on FIG. 1. The central location ofthe magnet member 104 relative to the armature 106 locates the magneticfields indicated by 114 and 116 such that they act on the armature 106in a substantially balanced manner, e.g. in equal and oppositedirections. This in turn results in the magnet member 104 providing asubstantially balanced magnetic force on the armature 106 that coincideswith the direction of movement of the armature 106 along the axis C,absent current being applied to the coil 102. Those skilled in the artwill appreciate, however, other configurations and locations of themagnet member 104 that provide the substantially balanced force on thearmature 106 as a function of other configurations of the motor 100.

Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the magnetic member 104 maybe a plurality of magnets circumscribing the armature 106 so long aseach pole of each magnet is disposed adjacent to and in facingrelationship with a pole piece of the same or like polarity to achievethe substantially balanced magnetic field acting on the armature 106. Instill yet another alternative example, the magnetic member 104 may betwo separate but opposing magnets located on opposing first and secondsides of the armature 106 so long as each pole of each magnet isdisposed adjacent to and in facing relationship with a pole piece of thesame or like polarity.

In another embodiment, the magnetic member 104 may be a coil biased withdirect current (DC) such that the coil provides equal and oppositeelectromagnetic fields acting on the armature 106 in a substantiallybalanced manner.

The coil 102 may be wound around the pole 110, as illustrated on FIG. 1,or alternatively may be wound around the pole 112. As will beappreciated, the number of windings on the coil 102 is determinative ofthe strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the coil 102 whenit is energized. Advantageously, however, as will become apparent fromthe following description, the motor 100 is configured to minimizereluctance in the electromagnetic circuit path 118, to maximize a givenforce output from the motor 100 for a given number of windings on thecoil 102. In this regard, the coil 102 may be wound around the pole 110such that an alternating current may be applied to the coil 102 toproduce an electromagnetic field normal to the direction of windingalong the path 118. According to this characterization, the direction offlux flow is a function of the direction of an input current applied tothe coil 102. In other words, while the path 118 of the electromagneticfield remains the same, the direction of travel of the magnetic flux maybe switched as a function of the direction of the current applied to thecoil 102. Of importance in this regard, is that reluctance is minimized(e.g. minimum resistance to magnetic flux) in the overall path 118, asthe coil 102 produced flux does not pass through the magnetic member104, but rather, passes through the armature 106 and the back iron 108.Advantageously, the efficacy of the motor 100 is improved by increasingthe strength of the electromagnetic field generated for a given numberof windings of the coil 102 as the reluctance in the path 118 isminimized, e.g. air gaps and other structure having a high magneticfield resistance are minimized and magnetically conductive material inthe path 118 maximized. Accordingly, the armature 106 may be any highpermeability magnetically conductive material. In one example, thearmature 106 may be an alloy material having a high saturation flux,such as a Fe/Co/V alloy in the ratios 49/49/2, known in the art asPermendur 2V.

Operationally, the motor 100 may be viewed as a pair of back-to-backvariable reluctance motors that share a portion of a magnetic circuit.According to this characterization, as current is applied to the coil102 in a first direction, as for instance in the counterclockwisedirection, electromagnetic flux is generated along the path 118 indirection (A). This in turn affects the strength of the permanentmagnetic fields along the paths 114 and 116. In particular, anelectromagnetic field traveling in the direction (A) along the path 118in the opposite direction of the permanent magnetic field in path 116,and in the same direction as the permanent magnetic field in the path114, operates to increase the permanent magnetic field along the path114 and decrease the permanent magnetic field along the path 116. Thisin turn causes the armature 106 to move between the poles 112 and 110 inthe direction (A) toward the pole 110 Similarly, when the current in thecoil 102 is switched, e.g. is induced in the opposite direction, theelectromagnetic field is generated along the path 118 in direction (B).This in turn, operates to reduce the strength of the permanent magneticfield along the path 114, which is traveling in the opposite direction,and increases the permanent magnetic field along the path 116, which istraveling in the same direction, causing the armature 106 to travelbetween the poles 112 and 110 toward the pole 112. In this manner,switched application of the current to the coil 102 offsets thesubstantially balanced permanent magnetic fields along paths 114 and 116that exist about the armature 106 absent current to the coil 102. This,in turn, causes armature 106 to move back and forth between the poles110 ands 112 as a function of the direction of the current and resultingflow of the electromagnetic field along path 118. Of importance, is thatthe biasing force provided by the magnetic member 104 operates to cancelout non-linear forces that are typically exhibited by a variablereluctance motor. In this regard, the operational principles will now beexplained in mathematical terms using a single variable reluctance motorto explain the advantages of the present motor 100. Thus, for a two polevariable reluctance motor as represented, for instance, by paths 114 and118, the output force generated may be given by, Equation 1:$F = {{- \frac{1}{2}}\left( \frac{NI}{R} \right)^{2}\frac{\mathbb{d}\Re}{\mathbb{d}x}}$

Where

-   -   N=represents the number of turns on the coil;    -   I=represents the current (so that NI is the total current        threading the coil core);    -   =represents the reluctance (resistance to magnetic flux), and    -   x=represents the displacement of the coil in the direction of        motion.

While this type of motor is capable of producing large forces in acompact form factor, the resulting force is proportional to the squareof the current, rather than linear with current. In other words, theforce is non-linear due to the NI² term, which leads to distortion.Furthermore, the reluctance

is a function of separation as given by, Equation 2:$\Re = \frac{L_{S}}{\mu_{0}A_{S}}$

Where:

-   -   L_(s)=represents the effective length of the structure,    -   A_(s)=represents the effective area of the structure.

This leads to changes in amplitude and non-linearity as the armaturevibrates back and forth. It also leads to changes in the output forcewith armature position, which causes a significant change in inductancewith position.

In the case of motor 100, however, including the biasing force inducedby permanent magnetic member 104, the output force of half of motor 100may be given by, Equation 3: $\begin{matrix}{F = {{- \frac{1}{2}}\left( \frac{{NI} + {NI}_{BIAS}}{\Re} \right)^{2}\frac{\mathbb{d}\Re}{\mathbb{d}x}}} \\{= {{- \frac{1}{2\quad\Re^{2}}}\left( {{NI}^{2} + {{NI} \times {NI}_{BIAS}} + {NI}_{BIAS}^{2}} \right)\frac{\mathbb{d}\Re}{\mathbb{d}x}}}\end{matrix}$

As illustrated by Equation 3, where NI_(BIAS) is much larger than NI,NI² will be small compared to NI×NI_(BIAS), resulting in a linear outputforce for a given input current to the coil 102. Advantageously, wherethe biasing force applied by the permanent magnetic 104 is constant, theNI_(BIAS) ² term is a constant biasing force on the motor 100, and thus,does not alter the acoustic performance of the motor 100. In thisregard, the biasing force applied by the magnetic member 104 replacesthe NI_(BIAS) term in equation 3 above, as given by Equation 4:${NI}_{PM} = \frac{B_{r}L_{m}}{\mu_{m}}$

Where:

-   -   B_(r)=represents the remnant magnetic field of the permanent        magnet;    -   L_(m)=represents the effective length (i.e., from N to S pole)        of the magnet; and    -   μ_(m)=represents the permeability of the magnet, typically        within a few percent of        ${\mu_{0} = {4\quad\pi \times 10^{- 7}\frac{Henry}{m}}},$        which is the permeability of free space.

Thus is explained the performance of a variable reluctance motor 100. Inthis regard, each half of the motor 100, comprising in the first casepaths 114 and 118, and in the second case paths 116 and 118, formback-to-back variable reluctance motors, each generating a force, e.g.F₁ and F₂, according to Equations 3 and 4, but with signs altered toaccount for the orientations of current and magnetic flux. In thisregard, the total resultant force on the armature 106 is the sum ofthese two forces F₁ and F₂. As a result, the non-linear term due to thesquare of the current in the two halves substantially cancel. Theconstant terms due to the force produced by the permanent magnet 104alone on the armature 106 also substantially cancel. That is, thearmature 106 is substantially balanced. The remaining force containsonly one term, which is linear in current.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown an alternative embodiment of themotor 100, namely the motor 200. The motor 200 is substantially similarto the motor 100 except that rather than a single coil 102, the motor200 includes a second coil 220 wound around pole 112 in the samedirection as thee coil 102. According to this characterization, the coil220 is electrically connected to coil 102 such that current flows in thesame direction in both coils 102 and 220 to generate the electromagneticfield along path 118. Operationally, the motor 200 is identical to motor100. Of note, however, it will be appreciated that the additionalwindings provided by the coil 220 may increase the maximum output forcethe motor 200 is capable of generating as output force is directlyrelated to the number of windings of the coils 102 and 220.

Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown still yet another alternativeembodiment of the motor 100, namely the motor 300. The motor 300includes the armature 106, the coil 102, the back iron 108, and thepoles 110 and 112 respectively. In contrast, however, the motor 300includes magnetic members 304 and 306 disposed within the wall of theback iron 108. According to this characterization, the magnetic members304 and 306 generate a biasing force, which acts along the paths 308 and310 respectively on the armature 106 of the motor 300. As with the motor100, while other means for producing the biasing force may be utilized,the magnetic members 304 and 306 may be permanent magnets that producepermanent magnetic fields along the paths 308 and 310 that are largerthan the electromagnetic field generated by the coil 102 along the path118. According to this characterization, the motor 300 also includespoles 302 and 312 respectively, which may be made of the samemagnetically conductive material and form a part of the back iron 108.The poles 302 and 312 operate to reduce the reluctance in the paths 308and 310 by minimizing the amount of air that the permanent magneticfields from magnetic members 304 and 306 pass through.

As with motor 200, it will be appreciated that in the alternative themotor 300 may be constructed using a pair of coils, e.g. 102 and 220.Operationally, the motor 300 is identical to the motors 100 and 200. Itshould be noted, however, that the motor 300 may be slightly lessefficient as the electromagnetic flux path 118 passes through themagnetic members 304 and 306 thereby slightly increasing the reluctancein the path 118.

Referring to FIG. 4 there is shown still yet another alternativeembodiment of the motor 100, namely the motor 400. For purpose ofillustration, FIG. 4 depicts a sector 405 of the motor 400, delineatedby lines of symmetry 403 and 404. The motor 400 includes an armature 406and a stator 414, including at least one drive coil 408, at least onemagnetic member 410, and a back iron 412. In this regard, the motor 400is similar to the motor 200 except that rather than a linear armature106, the motor 400 includes a rotary hub 401, rotating about a centralpivot 402, carrying the curved armature 406. In this regard, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that while a single sector 405 may beused to provide rotation through a limited range about pivot 402, themotor 400 would typically be comprised of multiple sectors, such assector 405, to provide continuous 360 degree rotation of the armature406 about pivot 402. It should be noted that the curved armature 406 maybe repeated about the rotary hub 401 so as to cover a larger portion ofa 360 degree circle. In other words, multiple armatures, e.g. 406, maybe disposed about the circumference of the rotary hub 401. It will beappreciated that this may provide more force or a larger range ofcontinuous rotary motion about pivot 402. In the case of multiplearmatures, e.g. 406, the multiple armatures may be disposed about therotary hub 401 in an offset fashion. This assures that one or more ofthe armatures is located in a substantially balanced manner in relationto each different stator sector. Thus, only the drive coil 408 adjacentto the preferred armature, (which provides the most linear output) needbe activated, using commutation techniques familiar to those skilled inthe art. Furthermore, it should be noted that an additional coil 416,which operates identically to coil 220 of motor 200, may be incorporatedinto the motor 400 as a matter of choice. In this regard, the windingsof the drive coil 408 (and similarly the coil 416 if utilized) may bewound circumferentially such that a portion of the windings are locatedoutside of the back iron 412, as illustrated on FIG. 4.

Operationally, the sector 405 is identical to motor 100 except thatforces are developed on the curved armature 406 rather than on thelinear armature 106. In other words, as current is applied to the drivecoil 408 in a first direction, as for instance in the counterclockwisedirection, electromagnetic flux is generated along the path 118 indirection (A). This in turn affects the strength of the magnetic fieldsgenerated by the permanent magnet member 410 along the paths 114 and116. In particular, an electromagnetic field traveling in the direction(A) along the path 118 in the opposite direction of the magnetic fieldin path 116, and in the same direction as the magnetic field in the path114, operates to increase the magnetic field along the path 114 anddecrease the magnetic field along the path 116. This in turn causes thearmature 406 to move toward the decreased field to the next sector. Itwill be appreciated that the next sector (not illustrated) would have amagnetic member and drive coil with an appropriate polarity to providerotary force in the same direction as sector 405. In this manner thedrive coils, e.g. 408, of the motor 400 may be energized, with currenthaving a phase difference between them, one or more at a time, to causerotation of the armature 406.

Hearing Aid System:

As noted above, in many applications it is desirable that a motor designbe compact, respond linearly to current input, and be independent of theposition of the armature relative to the stator. For instance, oneexample where such characteristics are desirable is in implantablehearing aid technology, and in particular, in implantable transducertechnology. Hearing aid implantable transducers often utilize a smallmotor to induce movement of an actuator. The actuator is interfaced withan auditory component such that the induced movement causes one or morebones of the ossicular chain to mechanically vibrate and cause orenhance the sensation of sound for a patient. As will be appreciated acompact design, linear response to current input, and independentpositioning of the armature driving the actuator are desirable motorcharacteristics in such transducers, given the small size and delicatenature of human auditory system.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an example of a semi-implantable hearing aidsystem having implanted components shown on FIG. 5, and externalcomponents shown on FIG. 6. As will be appreciated, the presentinvention may also be employed in conjunction with fully implantablesystems, wherein all components of the hearing aid system are locatedsubcutaneously.

In the illustrated system, an implanted biocompatible housing 500 islocated subcutaneously on a patient's skull. The housing 500 includes anRF signal receiver 516 (e.g. comprising a coil element) and a signalprocessor 504 (e.g. comprising processing circuitry and/or amicroprocessor). The signal processor 504 is electrically interconnectedvia wire 506 to a transducer 508. As will become apparent from thefollowing description, various processing logic and/or circuitry mayalso be included in the housing 500 as a matter of design choice.

The transducer 508 is supportably connected to a mounting apparatus 510mounted within the patient's mastoid process (e.g. via a hole drilledthrough the skull). The mounting apparatus 510 may be any one of avariety of anchoring systems that permit secure attachment of thetransducer 508 in a desired position relative to a desired auditorycomponent, e.g. the ossicular chain 512. As will be described in furtherdetail below, the transducer 508 includes a vibratory actuator 514 fortransmitting axial vibrations to a member of the ossicular chain 512 ofthe patient (e.g. the incus).

Referring to FIG. 6, the semi-implantable system further includes anexternal housing 600 comprising a microphone 602 and internally mountedspeech signal processing (SSP) unit (not shown). The SSP unit iselectrically interconnected to an RF signal transmitter 604 (e.g.comprising a coil element). The external housing 600 is configured fordisposition around the rearward aspect of the patient's ear. Theexternal transmitter 604 and implanted receiver 502 each includemagnets, 606 and 502, respectively, to facilitate retentive juxtaposedpositioning.

During normal operation, acoustic signals are received at the microphone602 and processed by the SSP unit within external housing 600. As willbe appreciated, the SSP unit may utilize digital processing to providefrequency shaping, amplification, compression, and other signalconditioning, including conditioning based on patient-specific fittingparameters. In turn, the SSP unit provides RF signals to the transmitter604. Such RF signals may comprise carrier and processed acoustic drivesignal portions. The RF signals are transcutaneously transmitted by theexternal transmitter 604 to the implanted receiver 502. As noted, theexternal transmitter 604 and implanted receiver 118 may each comprisecoils for inductive coupling of signals therebetween. Upon receipt ofthe RF signals, the implanted signal processor 504 processes the signals(e.g. via envelope detection circuitry) to provide a processed drivesignal via wire 506 to the transducer 508. The drive signals cause theactuator 514 to vibrate at acoustic frequencies to effect the desiredsound sensation via mechanical stimulation of the ossicular chain 512 ofthe patient.

Hearing Aid Transducer:

Referring to FIG. 7 there is shown the transducer 508 incorporating anexample of a motor according to the present principles. It should beexpressly understood that while the transducer 508 in this example isillustrated with the motor 100, any one of the above described motors orvariations according to the principles disclosed herein may be utilizedin the transducer 508, and thus the following description is providedfor purpose of illustration and not limitation.

The motor 100 operates as a transducer driver to induce axial movementsof the actuator 514. The actuator 514 may be constructed from anymaterial of sufficient rigidity for transmission of vibrations to theossicles. Some examples of the actuator 514 include a wire, tube, pinetc. formed from a biocompatible material, e.g. titanium. Additionally,the actuator 514 may function as both an actuator and an armature, oralternatively, may be a separate structure connectable to the armature106.

The transducer 508 includes components, such as the motor 100 andtransducer electronics, which may be damaged by exposure to biologicalfluids, and therefore, it is desirable to limit exposure of suchcomponents to the same. At the same time, however, providing aninterconnection between a movable member, such as the actuator 514, andthe transducer 508 that is both movable and sealed is difficult as suchan interconnection necessitates forming a seal between the actuator 514and the transducer housing that does not interfere with driving ormoving of the actuator 514 in response to transducer drive signals.Advantageously, the armature 106 and the stator 120 of the motor 100 areseparate components, each of which includes an independent biocompatibleenclosure. This in turn permits separation of the means for providingthe movable connection between the actuator 514 and the transducer 508,and the means for sealing sensitive internal components of thetransducer 508, such as the motor 100.

According to one example, the armature 106 is located in a biocompatibleenclosure, comprising a cylindrical housing 720 made of a biocompatiblematerial, such as titanium. The housing 720 includes an integrallyformed bottom and a separately connectable lid 728 to facilitateassembly, e.g. insertion of the armature 106 followed by hermeticwelding of the lid 728 to the housing 720 to form a sealed biocompatibleenclosure. According to this example, the actuator 514 is interconnectedand extends perpendicularly from the lid portion 728 through an openingformed in an end 714 of the transducer housing 708. As will beappreciated, the actuator 514 may be an integral part of the lid portion728 or may be interconnected to the lid portion 728 by a means such as aweld. It will be appreciated that according to the present principles,the biocompatible housing 720 for the armature 106 may be formed byother means as well, such as for example, electroplating of the armature106 with a biocompatible material, such as gold.

A biocompatible enclosure 710 is also provided between the enclosure 720and the coil 102 and magnetic member 104. As will be further appreciatedfrom the following description, the enclosure 710 in conjunction withthe back iron 108 seals the coil 102 and the magnetic member 104 fromexposure to bodily fluids. According to this characterization, theenclosure 710 conforms to the shape of the coil 102 and magnetic member104 such that each end includes a flanged portion. The enclosure 710further includes a mating flange 724 at the end 714 and a mating flange722 at the end 716 of the transducer 508. The flange 724 is connected toa tube 726, which extends interior from the end 714 of the transducer508 where it is sealably connected to the flange 724, such as by ahermetic weld. Similarly, the flange 722 is connected to a tube 718,which extends interior from the end 716 of the transducer 508 where itis sealably connected to the flange 722, such as by a hermetic weld. Theflange 724 also connects to the flanged portion of the enclosure 710,such as by a hermitic weld. Similarly, the flange 722 connects to theflanged distal end of the enclosure 710, such as by a hermitic weld. Aswill be appreciated, the biocompatible enclosure 710 made up of thetubes 726 and 718, the flanges 724 and 722, and the hourglass shaped canmay be made of numerous biocompatible materials, with at least oneexample including titanium.

As noted above, the transducer 508 operates to stimulate an auditorycomponent, such as the ossicles, through axial vibrations transmitted bythe actuator 514. One example of a means for providing a movableconnection between the actuator 514 the transducer 508 is spring washers700 and 702, as exemplified by spring washer 700 illustrated in FIG. 8.In this regard, spring washers 700 and 702 also keep the armature 106substantially centered and in a balanced position when coil 102 is notenergized.

The spring washer 700 is connected about an interior portion to the topof the biocompatible housing 720. Similarly, the spring washer 700 issandwiched about its periphery between the flange 724 and the flangedportion of the enclosure 710. The spring washer 700 includes a centralaperture 804 provided to accommodate the actuator 514. To permit theaxial movement of the tube actuator 514 and armature 106, the springwasher 700 includes a plurality of helical cutouts that define aplurality of helical leafs 802 between the connected periphery andinterior portions of the spring washer 700. In this regard, the springwasher 702 is connected in a similar manner to the bottom of the housing720 and between the flange 722 and the flanged portion of the enclosure710. The spring washer 702 does not have an aperture 804 to accommodatethe actuator 514, but does have a plurality of helical cutouts to definea plurality of helical leafs, e.g. leafs 802.

The helical leafs 802 in the spring washers 700 and 702 allow theinterior portions of the spring washers 700 and 702 to flex inward andoutward, relative to their rigidly fixed peripheries. In particular, thehelical leafs 802 flex relative to the fixed peripheries with theadvancing and retracting of the armature 106 and actuator 514. Ofimportance, is that while the spring washers 700 and 702 permit axialmovements of the armature 106 and actuator 514 relative to thetransducer 508, they restrict lateral or side-to-side movements. As willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art, minimizing such lateralmovement of the armature 106 and actuator 514 is highly desirable in asystem designed to axially stimulate an auditory component, such as theincus.

It should be noted in this regard, that according to this design, fluidis permitted to flow through the interior portion of the transducerhousing 708. In particular, the helical leafs 802 permit fluid to enterthe interior space defined by the housing 720 and enclosure 710 throughthe tubes 726 and 718 at each end of the transducer 508. Advantageously,however, as noted above, the sealing of transducer components isseparated from the means for providing the movable connection betweenthe armature 106 and actuator 514.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations of theabove-described embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention.As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific examples andillustrations discussed above, but only by the following claims andtheir equivalents.

1. A method of operating an electric motor of an implantable hearing aidtransducer, the method comprising: generating an electromagnetic fieldin a stator portion of the electric motor of the implantable hearing aidtransducer in response to an input current; moving an armature portionof the motor relative to the stator portion in response to the generatedelectromagnetic field, wherein a reluctance of the motor varies duringthe moving step as a function of the armature position relative to thestator portion; producing a force that is substantially linearly relatedto the input current.
 2. The method of claim 1 the method comprising:inducing a biasing force on the armature portion of the motor at leastwhile the input current is provided.
 3. The method of claim 2 whereinthe inducing step comprises: inducing a substantially balanced magneticforce acting on the armature of the motor.
 4. The method of claim 3wherein the moving step comprises: providing an input current in a firstdirection to generate the electromagnetic field in the first direction;increasing a first portion of the biasing force with the electromagneticfield generated in the first direction; decreasing a second portion ofthe biasing force with the electromagnetic field generated in the firstdirection to move the armature in the first direction; providing theinput current in a second direction to generate the electromagneticfield in the second direction; increasing the second portion of thebiasing force with the electromagnetic field generated in the seconddirection; and decreasing the first portion of the biasing force withthe electromagnetic field generated in the second direction to move thearmature in the second direction.
 5. A method of operating animplantable hearing aid transducer, the method comprising: supplying aninput current to a variable reluctance motor of an implantable hearingaid transducer; driving the variable reluctance motor in response tosaid supplying; producing, in response to said driving, a force on anactuator of the variable reluctance motor that is substantially linearlyrelated to the input current; moving, in response to said producing, theactuator relative to a transducer body of the variable reluctance motor,wherein the actuator is interfaced with an auditory component; andstimulating the auditory component by the moving of the actuator.
 6. Themethod of claim 5 further comprising: generating an electromagneticfield in response to the input current; moving an armature of the motorrelative to a stator of the motor in response to said generating; andgenerating a biasing force with at least one magnetic member, whereinthe at least one magnetic member is located relative to the armature tocause the biasing force to act on the armature in a substantiallybalanced manner, wherein one of said armature and said stator isinterconnected to said actuator.